Five rural youth win scholarships for future ag careers

By Scout Nelson

The South Dakota Farmers Union (SDFU) Foundation has given a big boost to five students from rural areas in South Dakota. These students, chosen for their hard work and big dreams, each received a $500 scholarship. This money will help them chase their dreams in agriculture and make a difference in their communities.

“Youth are our future. These scholarships are among the ways Farmers Union can support rural youth as they pursue the education necessary to keep South Dakota’s agriculture and rural economy strong and moving forward,” said Karla Hofhenke, SDFU executive director. “When I look at these youth and their future career plans, I believe the future of agriculture in South Dakota is bright.”

Let's meet the scholarship winners:

1. Holden Hegg from Huron is off to South Dakota State University to study mechanical engineering. Growing up on a farm, he's ready to combine his love for machinery with his farming roots to help improve farming technology.
2. Abby Kolousek from Wessington Springs plans to dive into marketing, using her skills to shine a light on the needs of rural communities.
3. Garret Kruger from De Smet, a HVAC/R Technician Western Dakota Technical College is training to meet the high demand for heating and cooling experts in rural areas, ready to make a difference in homes and businesses.
4. Carissa Scheel from Wessington Springs, a future Veterinarian dreams of returning home to care for animals and support local farmers, ensuring their livestock are healthy and thriving.
5. Hayden Schroeder from Alexandria Native aims to study agricultural business and agronomy at SDSU, hoping to wear many hats in the ag industry, from agronomy to banking, while keeping his family farming tradition alive.

These students not only excel in their studies but also give back to their communities, leading projects in 4-H and FFA that make a real impact. Samantha Olson, who helps run education programs at SDFU, is amazed by their dedication and knows they're ready to succeed in college and beyond.

Through these scholarships, the SDFU Foundation is planting seeds for the future of agriculture in South Dakota, showing us all how important it is to support the next generation of farmers and ag professionals.

Photo Credit - pexels-karolina-grabowska